Alex Karras finally passed away a couple of days ago. There were some tributes in the local media and I have linked to an album of photographs mostly from back in the day covering Alex Karras colorful career. Karras was a real chararcter. Especially for the era he played in. Besides being one of the best defensesive lineman of his time he also was one of the few football players to succeed in his post career life also.
Before Karras joined the Lions he made $25 grand as a pro wrestler, pretty good money for those days, he was suspended for one season for gambling, having bet on pro-games and after reinstatement refused to call the coin toss before a game as he told the ref "he was prohibited from gambling".
Nick-named the "Mad Duck" he was famous as a near sighted charging rhino that used his myopia as an identifying characteristic for his professional image. He starred as himself in a movie based on George Plimptons book "Paper Lion" about an author that tries to make it as a pro-QB. Alan Alda played the Plimpton role and the movie is worth catching if you ever have the chance.
Like many "characters" from the '60's I'm sure Karras was a flaming liberal. His "Webster" TV series created by ultra-lib wife and co-star Susan Clark, was a first go at the now all too common theme of black adopted kid as status symbol "pet". Too bad that this silly Hollywierd habit that started so long ago still continues to this day with the likes of Madonna and Angela Jolie.
Karras also signed onto the latest round of lawsuits against the NFL alleging that the unsafe equipment (helmets) are the cause of future health problems of so many ex NFL players. How the deficient helmets cause heart disease and kidney failure is beyond me but anyway Karras died at home in LA with his family by his side. A nice ending to the man's long interesting life story.
http://apps.detroitnews.com/apps/multimedia/gallery.php?id=14941
